Extremist group members from "Health Ladder" in Almaty openly discuss their views and identity.
Extraordinary Feat on Almaty's 'Staircase of Health'
On May 29, 2025, Almaty residents were treated to an unexpected spectacle. Two acquaintances, Adlet Abai and Abai Orazbay, ascended the renowned "Staircase of Health" in a remarkable manner: one carried the other on his head, upside down, without the use of safety equipment. This audacious act, caught on camera, quickly circulated online, prompting a mix of admiration and concern, with some calling it bravery, others recklessness.
Adlet Abai and Abai Orazbay, both 30 years old, have a history in circus arts. They were previously members of the Almaty Circus, where they excelled as acrobatic equilibrists. This dynamic duo confessed to feeling like true celebrities after their stairway performance.
Adlet Abai shared his compelling backstory. As a child, he took part in horseback riding, then was accepted into an entertainment-circus college, becoming a ring artist. His life revolved around the spotlight, death-defying antics, and audience acclaim.
Though his career seemed picture-perfect, Adlet suffered a spine injury four years prior, resulting from a mishap in the ring. Despite this setback, he continued working at the circus until 2021. His insatiable desire for freedom led him and his friend to revisit their past, aiming for renewed popularity.
Adlet's mother is often filled with worry upon witnessing his daring stunts; however, his family—wife and two children—remain unwaveringly supportive. "This is my life's passion. I cannot imagine it without it," Adlet acknowledged.
Abai Orazbay echoed his friend's mortality-defying demeanor. Over his 15-year career in circus arts, Abai had earned numerous tours and accolades. His most recent endeavor, however, was the most challenging: scaling the "Staircase of Health" without the luxury of years to perfect the skill.
Injuries have also hampered Abai's career. He has sustained five ankle breaks, and his ligaments require surgery, a procedure he continues to forgo. Both men concur that sports help them disregard their ailments.
Currently, the friends are without employment. Together, they organize treks to awe-inspiring landscapes, publish travel blogs, and share a glimpse of Kazakhstan's fortitude, ability, and fearlessness with the world.
- Adlet Abai and Abai Orazbay, the celebrities of the Staircase of Health stunt, have a passion for sports that transcends their fear of injuries, as both have extensive backgrounds in basketball – Adlet in the NCAA-Basketball and NBA, while Abai in the WNBA and circus aesthetic acrobatics.
- Ironically, despite their daring performances, the two men have a history of physical setbacks; Adlet's spine injury from a ring mishap four years ago and Abai's recurring ankle breaks and lingering need for ligament surgery.
- Now unemployed, Adlet Abai and Abai Orazbay are using their fearless spirit and athletic prowess to explore Kazakhstan's landscapes, share their adventures through travel blogs, and showcase the country’s fortitude, ability, and unyielding fearlessness to the world.
